Fear of Choking

LegacyUser

Hi guys, i have a fear of choking while eating which was become alot worse over the last few weeks. Im not sure how I got this fear, but i do have a phobia of been trapped in a small space so guess its link with losing control.

I was ok eating at home and never really had a issue unless i was away from home out eat on hols etc where i would try my best to only get food that was easy to eat I wouldnt get steak etc. During this times i had a hesitation swallowing and would panic as I couldnt swallow but i always did after a few sec. That seem to pass and I havnt had it in a good few months now. But during this last few months eating Iv been clearing my throat while eating due to feeling something been stuck. Then over a month ago after eating i got a feeling something was stuck in my thoat all the time which really freaked me out. Iv been to the doc 3 times now and he doesnt think anything is there and has put me on acid reflux meds now for the last 2 weeks but it doesnt seem to be fixing it. He has referred me to a ENT doc but that could take 2 years before I get called so im cracking up now. Im going to see a cbt counselor in the hope of the only been from my anxiety.

My symptoms do look like acid reflux but i have done all i could with that, taking anti acids raising bed up 6inches not eating sauce and other foods that are ment to make it worse but it doesnt seem to be getting better. So im thinking of just landing over in A&E tomorrow morning and hope they can work it out.


Anyone suffering the same as me or any advice as its cracking me up now?

Dr. Zeus

Hi Op,

Have heard of this before. As far as I know and I am by no means any expert but this is more of a psycholgical issue rather than an acid reflux though it's always good to check with the GP.

My friend had this and it was an anxiety issue and I think you nailed it when you said fear of losing control. A lot of people's anxieties manifest themselves in fear of enclosed spaces, not being able to escape, having to be near the door etc. Often anxiety expresses itself through the body. This may be the case for you. Your anxiety has attached itself to a fear of choking and if you think about what is underlying that is a fear of maybe losing control, not being able to breath and dying.

I think CBT will really help you out. What I would say though is the more you try to fight anxiety the worse it gets. Try and accept that you are anxious at the moment and that this is manifesting itself in a strange way through the choking. Don't start thinking this is me losing it going crazy whatever - that is not what is happening so leave those thoughts aside.

What you may not realise also is the your breathing can be a cause. When people have panic attacks they are often not breathing properly and holding their breath and this can cause them to start hyperventilating and starts them panicking because they think they can't breath.

I am wondering are you in fact not breathing properly and this is leading you to trying to catch your breath which then leads to the choking feeling. Next time you sense this feeling stop yourself and notice your breathing, then take a few really deep breaths- see how that feels for you.

Anyway, like I said I am no expert but thought this might be of some help.
Definetely pursue the CBT route and keep in touch with your GP as well.

Best of luck to you OP

kate07

i've had a stage where i couldnt eat in public because i couldnt swallow, it was when i was suffering from panic attacks,was stressed and anxious, once these were all under control it stopped, comes bk the odd time - it was psychological.

Zen65

wrote: »

Anyone suffering the same as me or any advice as its cracking me up now?

Apart from the feeling of something being stuck in your throat, do you ever have episodes where you actually do briefing choke while swallowing?

I had periods where I seemed to gag on (small) bits of food for no apparent reason, and then was unable to breathe, giving rise to a sense of panic. I have found that by concentrating on breathing through the nose at these moments I can overcome the anxiety, and hence maintain my composure enough to swallow fully whatever is in my throat.

Cheers,

Z

LegacyUser

Op Here

sunflower27 Thanks for your reply I will look into it.

Dr. Zeus Great post thanks alot, I hope CBT will help too. Say from 4 to half 6 I was feeling like something was in my throat again so when i was swallowing saliva I was thinking about it and could feel the lump and was making me feel panic at times. I then had something to eat and it doesnt feel as bad now so I think its not something physical more part of my anxiety instead.


kate07 Thanks Kate good to hear your doing good now.


Zen65 No Zen i dont think I have choked I feel like im choking on small bit of food tho and just eat more food in the hope of clearing it. While this is happening it feels like someone has grabbed me by the throat like a pressure and I can still breath ok but it still freaks me out, I also seem to get my nose blocked up while eating.

I think will visit A&E soon for a few xrays and stuff to make sure alls ok to set my mind at ease.

LegacyUser

I have something similar OP. It started just over a year ago at work. I was having lunch and was eating food. I went to take a drink and for some reason my brain seemed to cease up, or my throat wouldn't swallow. I'm not sure what it was. It gave me a bit of a shock as I kind of thought I was going to choke or be unable to swallow the liquid.

For a few days I tried to work out what it was, thinking it was perhaps an allergy or some food I was eating. Then I realised it only happened me when I was at work, in the canteen with the other guys. If I was at home in the evenings watching tv, relaxing, it never happened. In fact, the only time it would happen was when I would consciously start to think about it.

I've started to think I have some sort of anxiety disorder and I was at the doctor the other day and he said I have high blood pressure at the moment. He has taken some blood to do some normal tests (as far as I know) and I'm going back next week to get my blood pressure checked again. I've checked it a few times at home since visiting the GP and it's been grand, although there are other times it's in the high blood pressure range. I know when I was speaking to him yesterday I was kind of getting a bit worked up and emotional describing how work was getting to me so I'm not really surprised my blood pressure showed up as being high.

Anyway he has again suggested I visit a psychologist and he said CBT would probably help me. He is also considering prescribing me beta blockers but he wants to wait a bit before deciding and see the results of the blood tests and of the next blood pressure reading.

For me, I know the swallowing thing is all in my head.

Curry Addict

i have a problem where meat or bread gets stuck in my throat and it impairs my breathing and makes me hiccup. I have to stand still and hold my head up and focus on breathing in case i choke. It takes from 10mins to 20 mins for the bread/meat to pass so i have to remain calm and focus hard. thankfully the food always eventually drops into my stomach. its very frightening but the key thing is to remain calm, i tell myself over and over that it will pass, it will pass, it will pass. sometimes before it drops i cant breathe for about 10 seconds due to the pressures in my throat. this has happened me about 100 times over the last 4 years. im due to see a specialist next month who will check it out.

the key thing is to reassure yourself and remember breathing is an automatic human function and u will breath no matter what even if u are not in control.

Joey the lips

Hi OP.

I start getting this when i was 17. I am still getting it in my 30's but i understand it now.

I had the exact same symptom...ie tightness in my troat like i could not swallow. It usually got worse in the winter.

I found i would avoid a lot of foods like steak, lamb or liver and i would eat a lot of mince and mashed veg. The only relief i got was when drinking. I would eat anything then. However i would not go down this road.

Councilling does the world of good. Keep on going. Do 10 sessions and if 6 months later you need more, do another 10 sessions.

I dont think doctors are experienced at handleing this which you will be able to tell and this will cause you more anxiousness...

I use to breath into a brown paper bag when it got bad...

Just take the days as they come and continue to ask all the questions you want.

metrovelvet

You have to go to your GP. It might be psychological or it might be this but he may not have heard of it. GPs dont know everything.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysphagia

LegacyUser

Op Here.

So to put my mind at rest I went to A&E got a xray done and they looked at my throat all seems to be prefect. They said it could be caused by anxiety. I am booked in to the ENT doc in 2 weeks time to look more into it as I felt I have it so long and every day it must be a physical problem. Like all today I feel I have something stuff and pressure that comes and goes.

I also started my CBT counselling and he said I do have alot of anxiety and its held in the throat and chest areas. But can anxiety make me feel like I have something stuck in my throat all day every day?

Thanks for the replys Goingur, Curry Addict, Joey the lips, metrovelvet.

So thats 3 doc visits and and A&E trip and 1 CBT class so lets hope i can sort it out.

Dr. Zeus

wrote: »

Op Here.

. But can anxiety make me feel like I have something stuck in my throat all day every day?.

Hi OP,

Thanks for the updates, glad you are taking all the necessary steps. I guees I was struck by that part of your post and I think the answer to your question is yes.

You are probably obsessing about that feeling in your throat which makes it more obvious and that makes you more anxious and the feeling intensifies. You are probably constantly checking to see if that feeling is there and surprise, surprise it is. I think it may take a little time for you to deal with this so be patient. There are no quick fixes for anxiety so be realistic about it.

Try and distract yourself doing something you enjoy and see if you notice the feeling or if it goes away or lessens. I know you are worried about yourself but this worry can make things worse. Even listening to some relaxing music might help.

Also, if you take note of when the you get the feeling it could be helpful to your recovery and to tell doctors/therapist. Is it worse in the morning, at night, before you go out, when you are with people or alone. This information can be helpful in getting to the root cause.

Best of luck again, Sorry I feel like I have given contradictory advice there!